Ammunition supply system

ABSTRACT

In order avoid ammunition feed from within a protective cell of a turret ( 1 ) or an ammunition magazine, a type of ammunition supply system ( 6 ) is disposed around the entire or partial circumference of the turret ( 1 ). The ammunition supply system ( 6 ) has at least one ammunition channel ( 10, 11 ) filled with ammunition ( 5 ), whereby a drive ( 13 ) is incorporated for the transport of the ammunition ( 5 ), if the weapon ( 3 ) is not designed to pull the ammunition ( 5 ) by itself. In this case, an endless chain ( 12 ) works together with the drive ( 13 ), wherein the endless chain is movable in two axes. This endless chain enables transport of the ammunition ( 5 ) around the radii (R) of the turret ( 1 ).

This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2007 041 294.2, filed Aug. 31, 2007, and on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/986,144, filed Nov. 7, 2007, and the entire disclosures of both documents are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a type of ammunition supply system that replaces a conventional ammunition magazine as a rotating ammunition feed around the turret.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ammunition magazines, or the like, for the acceptance of ammunition, wherein the magazines are accommodated in the vicinity of the turret or in the turret itself, are known. Thus, DE 195 26 664 A1 discloses a turret for a tank that is provided with a weapon and a magazine. The mounting of an ammunition magazine laterally on a gun mount is shown in DE 101 60 216 C1. An ammunition magazine that, in practice, is preferably arranged behind the turret is described in more detail in DE 10 2004 031 773 B3.

DE 697 28 353 T2 (EP 0 840 085 B1) describes an ammunition feed outwards from the turret. In particular, the effect of storing the ammunition in the turret is that the turret must be large enough for the storage and feed of the ammunition as well as for a crew. However, large turrets have the disadvantage that they themselves are heavy and must be armored for the protection of the crew, which additionally increases the weight of the turret.

The object of the invention is to set forth an ammunition supply system that is disposed neither in the turret nor in an ammunition magazine. In association with this object, endeavors are made to be able to design the turret as a smaller structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object is achieved by the features of a first embodiment of the invention, which provides an ammunition supply system (6), characterized in that it is mounted around the entire or partial circumference of a turret (1) or the like. Other advantageous embodiments are follows.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the first embodiment is modified so that the ammunition supply system is characterized in that the rotating ammunition supply system (6) comprises at least one ammunition channel (10, 11), whereby the ammunition (5) is pulled through the weapon (3) itself from the at least one ammunition channel (10, 11). In accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, the first embodiment is modified so that the rotating ammunition supply system (6) comprises at least one ammunition channel (10, 11), a transport device (12), and an electric drive (13). In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention, the first through third embodiments are further modified so that a manifold (9), a torsion apparatus (8) as well as a support (7) are incorporated between the weapon (3) and the ammunition supply system (6).

In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention, the third and/or fourth embodiments of the invention are further modified so that the transport device (12) is a rotating endless chain, which is held movably in preferably two axes. In accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention, the fifth embodiment is further modified so that downwards-projecting hooks are mounted on the chain elements. In accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention, the first through sixth embodiments are further modified so as to have a protected cell (2) for the accommodation of a crew (4), whereby a protection (22) is provided around the protected cell (2) and a further protection is provided around the ammunition supply system (6) by means of a protective casing (20). In accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention, the seventh embodiment is further modified so that the inner protection (22) of the protected cell (2) can have a different variable level of protection from the outer protective casing (20), whereby the level of protection for the crew (4) is formed from the level of protection of the inner protection (22) and the level of protection of the outer protective casing (20).

Thus, the present invention is based on the idea of incorporating the ammunition supply system around the turret, (i.e. the ammunition is not incorporated as a magazine behind or adjacent to the turret), but is placed or guided around/on the circumference of the turret. The supply system can be placed or guided around the entire turret, i.e. around the entire circumference or else only around part of the circumference of the turret.

In accordance with additional aspects of the invention, this relationship between the ammunition supply system and the turret enables the incorporation of a smaller protected cell because the ammunition need not be disposed in the turret. The protected cell can per se have a protective casing, depending on the protection requirement. Protection of the ammunition is also guaranteed by an additional protective casing around the ammunition supply system mounted outside the turret.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the components usually disposed in the turret, but which do not need to be within the direct reach of the operator, are likewise placed on the outside of the turret between the protected cell and, if present, the protective casing. In this way, protection of these components is guaranteed by the protective casing disposed around the ammunition without using the protective cell to protect these components.

Moreover, by dividing-up of the protection of different components of the turret, an advantage is achieved in that different protection combinations are possible. Depending on the level of protection required, an improved protection of the protected cell is achieved wherein a simpler level of protection of the ammunition is provided while full protection is created for the crew. In this way, a minimally required level of protection is employed for the ammunition. On the other hand, crew protection is maintained and the weight of the turret overall can be reduced. Thus, the levels of protection inside (i.e., the protected cell) and outside (i.e., portions outside of the protected cell) of the turret are variable, but can be adjusted in coordination with one another.

The rotating ammunition feed is carried out in an extremely simple form by a simple conventional ammunition feed, if the weapon itself is strong enough to pull the ammunition. In a preferred embodiment, however, the ammunition feed is provided with an incorporated drive, for example a motor, as well as a flexible guide, which are per se known. The rotating ammunition feed in this embodiment comprises a support, a torsion apparatus, a manifold connected thereto, as well as a transport device and an ammunition conveyor, preferably driven by an electric motor.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the transport device is a rotating endless chain that is movable in two directions (two axes).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail based on an illustrative embodiment shown by the drawings, which shows,

FIG. 1: a perspective view of a turret with weapon system and rotating ammunition supply system;

FIG. 2: a plan view of the turret without weapon system and rotating ammunition supply system;

FIG. 3: a front view of the rotating ammunition supply system from FIG. 1 with ammunition and without the turret;

FIG. 4: a back view of the rotating ammunition supply system from FIG. 1 with ammunition and without the turret;

FIG. 5: a rotating chain employed as the transport device of the ammunition supply system from FIG. 3 or FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 a: a schematic of the rotating chain 2 in a perspective view;

FIG. 6: the turret from FIG. 1 with protection employed for the ammunition; and

FIG. 6 a: a schematic representation of the protection shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a turret 1 with a protected cell 2, a weapon system 3, as well as indicated operators 4. Two types of ammunition 5 are fed laterally to the weapon 3. As a rule, there are at least two different types of ammunition that may be fed into the weapon 3. The ammunition 5 is fed to the weapon 3 from an ammunition supply system 6 rotating around the turret 1. The ammunition feed to the weapon takes place in a preferred embodiment by means of a support 7, a torsion apparatus 8, and a manifold 9, which are functionally connected to the ammunition supply system 6 (See FIG. 2).

FIG. 2 shows the turret 1 with the rotating ammunition supply system 6, which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The ammunition supply system 6 has two ammunition channels 10, 11, in which different types of ammunition are deposited. The transport to the manifold 9 takes place in the preferred embodiment with the aid of a rotating chain 12. The chain 12 is moved by means of an electric drive 13 (See FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). A peculiarity of this chain 12 is that it is held movably in two axes so that it can be placed around the turret 1. This structural configuration enables the transport of the ammunition 5 around the radii R of the turret 1.

In particular, in accordance with the partially circumferential ammunition supply system 6, the use of such a chain 12 is advantageous because with this configuration an endless chain can be created. A corresponding guide for the chain 12 can be seen in FIG. 5 a. The chain 12 is guided around corresponding deflections 14 as an unending, continuous chain, whereby the section 12.1 viewed spatially runs above the chain section 12.2 guided back below by the chain guide.

FIG. 6 shows the turret with an outer protection 20 and an inner protection 22, which is explained in more detail based on FIG. 6 a. A threat 21 first meets the outer protective casing 20, then the ammunition 5, and only then the inner protective casing 22, and thus the protected cell 2 itself. In designing the protective elements 22 of the protected cell 2, the pre-disposed protective elements of the outer protective casing 20 are taken into consideration. By these means, in coordination with the two protective casings 20, 22, different levels of protection can be adjusted individually, and the required protection needs are taken into consideration. 

1. An ammunition supply system mounted around an entire circumference or partial circumference of a turret.
 2. An ammunition supply system according to claim 1, wherein the rotating ammunition supply systems comprises at least one ammunition channel, wherein ammunition is pulled through a weapon of the turret from the at least one ammunition channel, wherein the weapon pulls the ammunition through the weapon.
 3. An ammunition supply system according to claim 1, wherein the rotating ammunition supply system comprises at least one ammunition channel, a transport device, and an electric drive.
 4. An ammunition supply system according to claim 1, wherein a manifold, a torsion apparatuses and a supports are incorporated between the weapon and the ammunition supply system.
 5. An ammunition supply system according to claim 3, wherein the transport device is a rotating endless chain that is held movably in preferably two axes.
 6. An ammunition supply system according to claim 5, wherein the rotating endless chain includes chain elements and downwards-projecting hooks are mounted on the chain elements.
 7. A turret provided with an ammunition supply system according to claim 1, wherein the turret includes a protected cell for accommodation of a crew, wherein inner protection is provided around the protected cell and outer protection is provided around the ammunition supply system, wherein the outer protection comprises a protective casing.
 8. A turret according to claim 7, wherein the inner protection of the protected cell has a different variable level of protection from that of the protective casing, wherein a level of protection provided for the crew accommodated by the protected cell is a combination of a level of protection provided by the inner protection and a level of protection provided by the protective casing.
 9. An ammunition supply system according to claim 2, wherein a manifold, a torsion apparatus and a support are incorporated between the weapon and the ammunition supply system.
 10. An ammunition supply system according to claim 3, wherein a manifold, a torsion apparatus and a support are incorporated between the weapon and the ammunition supply system.
 11. An ammunition supply system according to claim 4, wherein the transport device is a rotating endless chain that is held movably in preferably two axes.
 12. An ammunition supply system according to claim 9, wherein the transport device is a rotating endless chain that is held movably in preferably two axes.
 13. An ammunition supply system according to claim 10, wherein the transport device is a rotating endless chain that is held movably in preferably two axes.
 14. A turret provided with an ammunition supply system according to claim 2, wherein the turret includes a protected cell for accommodation of a crew, wherein inner protection is provided around the protected cell and outer protection is provided around the ammunition supply system, wherein the outer protection comprises a protective casing.
 15. A turret provided with an ammunition supply system according to claim 3, wherein the turret includes a protected cell for accommodation of a crew, wherein inner protection is provided around the protected cell and outer protection is provided around the ammunition supply system, wherein the outer protection comprises a protective casing.
 16. A turret provided with an ammunition supply system according to claim 4, wherein the turret includes a protected cell for accommodation of a crew, wherein inner protection is provided around the protected cell and outer protection is provided around the ammunition supply system, wherein the outer protection comprises a protective casing.
 17. A turret provided with an ammunition supply system according to claim 5, wherein the turret includes a protected cell for accommodation of a crew, wherein inner protection is provided around the protected cell and outer protection is provided around the ammunition supply system, wherein the outer protection comprises a protective casing.
 18. A turret provided with an ammunition supply system according to claim 6, wherein the turret includes a protected cell for accommodation of a crew, wherein inner protection is provided around the protected cell and outer protection is provided around the ammunition supply system, wherein the outer protection comprises a protective casing. 